[Please note that Alexander will be referred to as Deno from now on, the only exception being when his past is being referred to or when Adriana is mentioning him.]

In the arena, Alexander's eyes were seared by the protruding beams of light that thrust themselves from the ceiling like radiant spears. He blinked rapidly, struggling to adjust his vision to the overwhelming brightness, as if he were trying to stare into the heart of a star.

The announcer stood tall, his styled silver hair shining in the light whilst his expensive jet-black suit absorbed the light. With every syllable the announcer spoke, the energy in the arena rose to feverish heights.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the undisputed champion, the undefeated, the ravaging, BLOODY MAMBA!" With a flourish, he announced the arrival of the champion - the undisputed ruler of the ring, the one who had never tasted defeat, the ferocious, the merciless, the BLOODY MAMBA.

The crowd erupted into a frenzy, their cheers and shouts filling the air like a tempest. The mamba emerged from behind the curtains, a vision of raw power and lethal grace. His eyes, like molten gold, gleamed with a fierce intensity that promised nothing but destruction for his opponents.

His muscles rippled under his skin, like the tide of an ocean, as he strode towards the ring. He was a force of nature, a being of raw power and unbridled ferocity. He was the embodiment of violence, the master of the ring, the BLOODY MAMBA.

And as the bell rang, signaling the start of the match, the crowd held their breath, knowing that they were about to witness the greatest show on earth. For the BLOODY MAMBA was not just a fighter, he was a legend, an icon of the sport, and a true champion in every sense of the word.

The arena was filled with a deafening cacophony of distorted noises, causing Alexander's face to scrunch up in disgust. He had grown tired of the monotony of victory after victory, each opponent falling before him like blades of grass beneath a scythe. But now, the final challenge stood before him - the infamous Bloody Mamba. Would he even have to exert himself to defeat this final opponent on his path to the top?

The announcer's voice boomed through the arena, hyping up Alexander's strength and skill as he declared, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you a true warrior, one who has journeyed to the far corners of the earth in search of strength, honing his craft in a myriad of martial arts and ascending to the summit of his abilities. Behold, the Unyielding Fist!"

Alexander cringed at the nickname, the first time he heard it, it had caused him great discomfort. But now, surprisingly, it was beginning to grow on him.

The two opponents moved towards their respective corners, the audience filled with men who had bet thousands on the Bloody Mamba, cheering and championing wildly for their chosen fighter.

With the ringing of the bell, the two charged forward with the ferocity of beasts. Alexander, caught off guard, felt a sharp strike to his solar plexus and a swift kick to his calf. His opponent, the reigning champion known as Bloody Mamba, was a master of the deadly art of Muay Thai.

'Erh, seems like the champion specializes in Muay Thai.'

Perfectly analysing Bloody Mamba's martial art, Alexander quickly adapted his fighting style, drawing upon the knowledge he had acquired in Czechoslovakia of the Israeli martial art of Krav Maga. His movements became fluid and deadly as he battled against the champion, displaying a mastery of combat honed by years of training and experience.

With fluid grace, Alexander shifted his stance, leaping to the right with the precision of a predator. In one swift motion, he unleashed a leg sweep, his strength akin to that of a freight truck as he sent Mamba crashing to the ground. Despite the ferocity of his attack, Alexander remained ever vigilant, maintaining his guard even as he struck the final blow.

Unwilling to grant his opponent a moment of respite, Alexander pressed his advantage, diving relentlessly at Mamba with a relentless fury that left the audience reeling in shock and dismay.

With fluid grace, the Bloody Mamba unfurled his lithe body, rolling away from the fray. His senses came alive as he gathered his bearings, his mind recalling the shocking skills of Alexander. For countless hours, he had studied and analyzed the enigmatic warrior's every move, yet with each battle, Alexander seemed to shift and adapt his fighting style like the sands of the desert.

A flicker of movement caught his eye as he scanned the crowd, their faces twisted in confusion and disbelief. They could not comprehend the terrifying potential of the unyielding fist. He himself was a poster boy for the MMA but Alexander...

The Bloody Mamba felt a sense of pride as he prepared to face the underground fighting deity, a warrior who would fight to the death without hesitation, a fighter who trained in every art he had access to. He knew that this battle would be one for the ages, a test of wills and skill that would be remembered for generations to come.

With a sly grin creeping across his face, the Mamba lunged forward towards Alexander. Taking note of his opponent's stoic expression, he tightened his fist and unleashed a lightning-fast punch, a blur of motion that seemed to materialize out of nowhere. But before the Mamba's fist could make contact, Alexander vanished, reappearing on his left with a demonic aura emanating from his being.

"Oh..." the Mamba exclaimed in disappointment, his eyes closing as he realized the vast chasm in their abilities. He knew in that moment that Alexander was simply superior - stronger, faster, better in every way.

Mamba's ribs crumpled beneath the force of Alexander's punch, as his footing crumbled beneath him. In a swift movement, Alexander seized the opportunity and locked Mamba in a choke hold, his powerful grip constricting the breath from Mamba's lungs.

With one hand, Alexander unleashed a torrent of punches, each one imbued with the power to fell a wild boar.

-Bang

-Bang

-Bang

With each strike of his fist, Alexander unleashed a relentless onslaught upon his opponent, drawing forth cascades of blood and shattering bones with each savage blow. The crowd, transfixed by the beast-like figure before them, fell silent in awe and fear. The arena itself seemed to quiver in the presence of the relentless warrior, as if even the very air was allergic to the sounds of violence. And all who beheld him could not help but feel a mix of terror and reverence for Alexander.

As the strikes rained down upon Mamba's grotesque visage, the sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed through the chamber. Alexander, a figure of unyielding strength and determination, stood tall amidst the chaos, his body adorned in the blood of his fallen foe.

The sensation of the warm, coppery liquid seeping into his skin was invigorating, a reminder of the power he held over those who dared to challenge him. The battle was not one of life or death, but a test of will, a constant struggle to prove oneself in the face of adversity.

And in that moment, as he stood victorious, Alexander truly became The Unyielding Fist.

-----

Deno's chest heaved with the force of his labored breath, the sweat upon his skin glistening in the dim light filtering through the towering trees above. The unfamiliar environment was a source of unease, for the titan-like trees seemed to loom over him, their lofty presence a reminder of his vulnerability. As he lay there, wrapped in the warm embrace of a plain brown blanket, tightly secured beside an imposing tree, Deno's mind raced with the remnants of the dream that had so violently pulled him from his slumber. 'It was just a dream,' he whispered to himself, but the lingering sense of unease remained.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The flickering fire danced to the right of Deno, its nostalgic texture reminiscent of the warmth and safety of his childhood with his family. As he turned his gaze beyond the flames, he saw the silhouettes of two bodies lying beside the fire. One belonged to a young girl, the other to a man in his prime.

As Deno's mind began to drift back into the embrace of slumber, a voice interrupted his reverie. 'Op, you awake now, boy?' Adriana's eager tone jolted him back to reality. With a chuckle, Deno replied, 'I am now. Actually, I kind of forgot you even existed.'

'...' Not responding to the rudeness displayed by the man, Adriana remained silent expecting him to apologise.

-Snore

'HEY! WAKE UP!' she bellowed, jolting Deno from her reverie.

Her patience, already frayed by his insolence, she snapped.

Deno's facade of innocence crumpled as a sly smile spread across his face, a hint of amusement twinkling in his eyes.

Adriana, a formidable guardian whose very presence commanded respect and fear, glared at him in frustration.

'I know what you're doing boy! Stop it now!' she exclaimed, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation.

'Alright, Alright. You want to clarify some things yes?'

'Indeed, I would appreciate it if you could at least try to participate.'

Internally nodding to each other Adriana began to speak first.

'I have searched your mind and have understood all about your past and how you have reached this point. Quite unfortunate that you were born here human, as an infant for an experiment, how sad.'

'How much did you see?' Deno's voice shook with fear, as he struggled to comprehend the violation of his privacy. A man's private life was not something to be meddled in so casually.

'Ho ho, don't worry,' the being replied with a chuckle. 'I have lived for 3 millennia, and have seen much more than your mortal life. Though I have delved into your past, it is only fair that you see mine. Though, be warned, many areas will remain restricted, as I do not wish for you to see my past, or for your mind to be overwhelmed by its complexity.'

Feeling exposed and disrespected, Deno's ego was left bruised and battered. But, faced with the reality of the situation, he could only nod in silent acceptance.

Looking through her memories available to him, he saw something he would never have been ready to see. Her memories he viewed contained instances of the war, her death, the Vanadium Empire's legacy and the fact that she was a god damn dragon.

'Holy Shit! You're a dragon!?'

Deno said exacerbated. Looking at him understandably she in a more shocking voice stated.

'Imagine how shocked I was to see that you weren't even from this world. What a horrifying race you humans are, even in different realities. Incredible technologies and devices, yet no Dao. Although, it begs the question, how is it possible that you've been transported here?'

'Dunno, couldn't know even if I wanted to but yeah I agree, humans are terrifying.'

"Hey, are you awake little guy?" Nicholas said as he hovered above Deno, interrupting his contemplation and discussion with Adriana.

Seeing Deno's confusion, Adriana quickly translated. 'What is he saying?'

'He asked if you're awake,' Adriana explained.

Deno paused and then asked Adriana, 'How do I say, incredible observation, Sherlock Holmes?'

Adriana chuckled, remembering the Sherlock character from her memories and replied, 'I don't think children of your age should be able to fluently respond to others yet.'

Deno responded, 'Right. Still, could you teach me the language?'

Adriana contemplated for a moment and then offered an alternative solution. 'How about searching through my memories and studying when I learned the human language many centuries ago? You could use them as manuals or tutorial videos.'

Deno became paralyzed with fear in response to Adriana's words. 'Just how much did you see?' he stated nervously. Adriana began to giggle in short bursts. 'Hehe, hehe, don't worry about it. What a magnificent and interesting culture the humans from your world have,' she said.

'From my recollection, I thought you would despise humans after what they did,' Deno responded. Understanding why he would think such a thing, Adriana remarked, 'Yes, the humans of this world I despise, not so much yours though. I'm not a racist after all.'

All of a sudden, thumps across the ground could be heard as Deno opened his eyes to see a six to seven-year-old girl running toward him. "Oh master Nicholas, could I hold him? Please let me hold him!" the girl exclaimed.

Nicholas smirked. "Maybe you should let him rest. In the meantime, let's begin your cultivation. Taking into consideration the other children in your generation's head start, you will have to work extremely hard to catch up to them," he said.

Nicholas secretly added in his head, "Not that you truly need to with your potential."

"I understand, master!" the girl responded.

-----

Deno's consciousness:

'So, what you're saying is that I can achieve that godlike power as well?' Deno's heart raced with excitement as he listened to Adriana's words.

'Well, it will be difficult with your potential, but if you assist me in recreating a body for myself, a dragon body, then I will train you as my personal disciple,' Adriana replied.

Deno knew her words could not be taken lightly. From her memories, he could see that she was a fearsome dragon who had killed thousands with a single technique. If someone as great as her, a guardian of an empire, could train him, it would be exceptional.

He had always felt like he had reached the limit of the human body's capabilities. He had become undefeatable, an immortal on Earth, but he still fell short of their weapons such as guns and knives. Yet, in this world, anything can be overcome with cultivation.

He had reached the peak of one world, why couldn't he reach the peak of another? Sensing his resolve and willingness, Adriana took it as a yes and began to explain the core sections of Dao.

-----

Simultaneously, outside:

Seated with legs crossed, Ally listened intently as Nicholas spoke of the ancient teachings of the Dao. Her eyes fixed upon him, drinking in his every word as if they were drops of life-giving water in a parched desert.

"What are the sections of Dao?" Nicholas queried, his gaze fixed upon Ally with a look of curiosity. As the question was posed, her neck recoiled like that of a turtle, withdrawing into the folds of her garments as if seeking refuge from the weight of her ignorance. Nicholas took her silence as an indication that she was not familiar with the basic foundations of the Dao and so, he continued.

"They are: the martial Dao, where one cultivates strength, durability, intelligence, and perception; the alchemy Dao, where pills are cultivated for use as medicine or to boost cultivation; the Enchanting Dao, a path coveted by every sect, though many smaller and lesser sects do not possess the knowledge of its practices. And finally, the Array Dao, where an array master can create dimensions, equipment, illusions, and traps. You may choose to specialize in any one of these Daos, for they all link back to the Supreme Dao of ancient times, the creator of all that is. The Supreme Dao is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, so always make sure to offer up your prayers to it

As Nicholas spoke, his expression turned to one of utmost seriousness, his eyes narrowing as he glared daggers at Ally. His voice grew louder with each repetition of his question, "Do you understand!?"

Ally, caught off guard by the sudden intensity, stammered out a response, "Y-Yes I Do!"

Nicholas nodded in relief, but realized that further explanation was necessary. "Do you know what omniscient and omnipresent means?" he asked.

Ally nodded eagerly, relieved that she had already learned the term before, "Yup! It's... Uhm... I forgot."

Nicholas let out a sigh of exasperation, his hand slapping against his forehead in frustration. He emphasized the importance of the term, "It means the Supreme Dao is everywhere and knows everything. When you ascend to a stage, you undergo tribulation; a process where your body undergoes a transformation into reaching the next level in your cultivation journey/stage. The more you make the Supreme Dao favor you, the easier the tribulations will be. But, once you attempt to ascend to the master stage, though, your life could still be in danger even if you're in good favor with Dao. Never undergo ascension to the next stage if you're not ready."

-----

Simultaneously within Deno's consciousness.

'Question.'

Adriana paused, her mind contemplating the weight of Deno's query. She granted him silent permission to continue, her internal nod signaling her readiness to hear more.

'If the Supreme Dao is truly omni-everything,' Deno pondered aloud, 'Did he create the universe using something akin to the grand explosion of the Big Bang? Could he be the very force that brought me into existence?'

Adriana released a sigh, her mind struggling to find the right words to answer such a complex and redundant question. She shrugged internally, unsure of how to respond.

'I cannot say for certain,' she spoke at last. 'Indeed, I doubt any being can claim to truly understand the workings of the Supreme Dao.'

'But what of the cultivation stages you so often speak of? How do they function?' The question caught Adriana off guard, her eyes lighting up with surprise as a good question finally came out of Deno.

'Excellent question. The stages essentially work the same for all different Dao arts from alchemy to martial and they proceed like this... A Stage 5 Cultivator to a Stage 4 Cultivator and so on until a Stage 1 Cultivator. Then it ascends to the Master stage, Expert stage and finally into the true divine ranks: Sage stage, Saint stage and Mystic stage. That should be all you need to know for now.'

'Mhm, but how will I know when I'm nearing my limit?'

'Your dantian will fill with Dao matter and the more there is within the Dantian, the longer and more difficult it is to fill. Once it has some Dao matter, it will be a lower realm stage x cultivator then middle realm stage x cultivator and higher realm stage x cultivator.'

Deno's face paled, the more he listened the more he realised that his brother would always tell him about the novels she would read and they sounded extremely similar to this.

If only he had properly listened to them them back on Earth.